The Greatest of These by Greg Wendleton (booksvooks txt) 📕

shoulder mounted radio mouthpiece and reported the additional find. Within minutes, two more cruisers arrived on scene and blocked off both access points to the parking lot and established a human barricade around the rental car and the potential evidence.

The Paia Police Department dispatcher notified the local FBI field office and a crime scene unit was quickly enroute to begin the official investigation of what was considered a high value scene. The team would be able to lift some partial prints, as well as some full hand prints from the rental car. They marked, photographed and then placed the hypodermic needle into an evidence bag and sealed it shut. They hoped it would serve as a gold mine of evidence.

While the investigation was progressing, Chad and Jamie Wilhite were resting comfortably in an intensive care suite and improving with each examination by the doctor and nurses. Their color was improving and they had been given some soft food, applesauce, and plain crackers to ease their systems into handling more substantial solid food. The IV’s had done their job as both patients needed to pee. That was a great sign.

Meanwhile, Special Agent Presley had been afforded the courtesy of a small, private space that he and I could talk. This was going to be the most difficult conversation I have ever had.

“Before we start, could I have a moment to send my wife a text message to let her know that we found Chad and Jamie and they are safe?”

“Go ahead, this is your circus.”

I typed quickly and then sent the following message:

We located Chad and Jamie and they are safe. In hospital, but will be fine. I’m with FBI and going to tell all. I’m sorry and I love you.

It was only eight in the evening back home, but I was still surprised to get Fonda’s quick reply:

Thank God! I’m praying for the three of you.

That was all I needed to brace myself for a full confession and whatever came my way.

I began from the first time I had met Conrad and quickly leapt forward to the first assignment we went on together. I gave as much detail as I could recall and progressed through the dozen additional operations I had been assigned by Conrad. I revealed the details of the off-shore account I had set up with his assistance, as well. Special Agent Presley was taking copious notes on a tablet the hospital had left in the meeting room. He didn’t interrupt me once.

I progressed to my last meeting with Conrad at The Farm outside Helotes, in late January. I had mentioned Chad and his improving attitude and that I thought it had to do with the COVID vaccine. Now that I thought back on it, I realized it was the first time Conrad had asked a question about anything personal I had shared with him. At least since our initial meetings when Fonda was depressed over her parent’s death.

This was when Special Agent Presley interrupted my confession. “So, Conrad quizzed you about Wilhite and his possible involvement in the vaccine shipments?”

“Yes sir. I thought it was just small talk at the time, but now I see that he was pumping me for details. Details he needed to make his own plans.”

“Continue with your story please.”

For the next several minutes I told him everything I knew about Conrad, his farm and his means of communication. Everything seemed so nefarious, now that I was looking back, without blinders on. How absolutely stupid I had been!

“Well Garret, several things I need to share with you at this point. So, before you say anything else, please listen carefully.” Special Agent Jerry Presley removed a card from his pocket and read me my rights, and then asked, “Do you understand your rights and do you wish to continue our conversation?”

“Yes sir, I do understand and I want to tell you everything I know.”

“Okay then. Here’s the way I’m looking at this. First, the activity you’ve undertaken outside of the United States, I’m not concerned about. I’m familiar with many of those cases and those bastards got what they deserved. That’s off the record. Regarding the off-shore account, we’ll need to verify your claim that there should be a little more than one million dollars in the account. That does fall under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department and the FBI. I’m not sure how that will be approached.”

“I understand that I could be in big trouble here, but I just want to be clear, I want to help bring Conrad and his goons to justice. No matter what it costs me.”

Presley nodded his head and we continued working through the details of my association with Conrad, and my notification to neutralize Chad Wilhite early this past Tuesday morning. After what seemed to be an eternity, a subtle knock on the door brought us out of our intense conversation. “Enter” declared the Special Agent.

Doctor Talbot stepped into the small meeting room making it seem even smaller. “I think the Wilhites are strong enough to talk with you now.”

We both looked at our watches and realized it was almost seven. We had been talking for nearly three hours. We nodded and stood to follow the doctor to their ICU suite. Walking down a wide corridor we entered a semi-circle of suites with glass sliding doors and privacy curtains. We passed a central nurse’s station and entered the next to last suite on the right where Chad and Jamie rested, partially elevated, in identical hospital beds.

Doctor Talbot turned to us and said, “I’ll leave you all alone, but please don’t wear out my patients.”

I walked between their beds and placed a hand on each of them and tears started streaming down my face. They both reached and grabbed ahold of my hands. Jamie spoke first, “Garret, thank you for flying here and working so hard to locate us. We will never forget what you have done.”

“It’s my…”

Special Agent Presley interrupted me before I could say anything